Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader suspended

May 6, 2013
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Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) checks Anaheim Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman (32) during the second period of Saturday's Game 3 of the NHL first-round series. Lydman left the game and did not return. / John T. Greilick, AP

by Helene St. James, USA TODAY Sports

by Helene St. James, USA TODAY Sports

DETROIT - The Red Wings will have to make do for the next two games without top-line forward Justin Abdelkader.

Abdelkader was suspended for Monday's Game 4 at Joe Louis Arena and Wednesday's Game 5 at Honda Center. The Ducks lead the first-round series 2-1.

The NHL held a 4 p.m. conference call to dissect Abdelkader's hit on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman late in the second period of Saturday's 4-0 loss at Joe Louis Arena. Abdelkader was handed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct after referees consulted with linesmen. At first, no penalty was called on the hit.

Abdelkader and general manager Ken Holland both discussed the incident with league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, who ended up handing out a suspension in line with earlier events these playoffs.

In a video statement, Shanahan explained his decision. "Abdelkader skates a considerable distance, and elevates to violently check Lydman, making significant head contact. ... Abdelkader elevates at contact, turning what could have been a hard, full-body check into a high, violent check with significant contact to the head, that caused an injury."

Holland told the Detroit Free Press that, "we disagree. I thought it was a real hard body check. But, we respect their decision. We've got to put a team together and win a game."

By the time the decision was made, the Red Wings were long scattered from Joe Louis Arena, where they hadopted for off-ice workouts rather than a practice. Coach Mike Babcock said he had his reserves on notice to play if needed, guys like Todd Bertuzzi and Jordin Tootoo.

The hit appeared to start out as a shoulder-to-shoulder collision, but Abdelkader did go out of his way to make the hit, and was coming with such speed that his feet left the ice upon impact. This is how Mike Babcock saw it: "I think it was shoulder-to-shoulder, bent knees going into the guy, exploding through him. But if I'm coaching them, or playing for them, I can find a way to see it different. I thought it was pretty good contact."

The NHL has made a very determined effort in recent years to recognize the importance of protecting players, especially when head shots are involved, whether blatant or not. There's less blame put on a player who maybe fails to keep his head up, and more on the hitter to be aware of what he's doing.

"Players are a lot more aware, we've all seen the head shots," Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary said. "The last couple of years from Shanny, he's done his videos, what he deems legal and illegal. But the onus has to fall on the player, and that's giving a hit and also protecting yourself out there. You have to be aware at all times, and sometimes you can't - I don't know if Toni just didn't see Abby, if he blindsided him. We all agree, we don't want anyone to get hurt out there."

Abdelkader plays a key role on the top line next to Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, retrieving the puck and going to the net for the team's two superstars. Anticipating a suspension, Jimmy Howard said being without Abelkader is "definitely be a big loss for us. He's one of the forwards that gets in on the forecheck, gets in there and bangs for us. He's not afraid to go to the dirty areas in front of the net and create havoc. It'd definitely be a loss for our lineup."